Numbers have fascinated people for centuries. They are familiar to
everyone, forming a central pillar of our understanding of the
world, yet the number system was not presented to us "gift-wrapped"
but, rather, was developed over millennia. Today, despite all this
development, it remains true that a child may ask a question about
numbers that no one can answer. Many unsolved problems surrounding
number matters appear as quirky oddities of little account while
others are holding up fundamental progress in mainstream
mathematics.
Peter Higgins distills centuries of work into one delightful
narrative that celebrates the mystery of numbers and explains how
different kinds of numbers arose and why they are useful. Full of
historical snippets and interesting examples, the book ranges from
simple number puzzles and magic tricks, to showing how ideas about
numbers relate to real-world problems, such as: How are our bank
account details kept secure when shopping over the internet? What
are the chances of winning at Russian roulette; or of being dealt a
flush in a poker hand?
This fascinating book will inspire and entertain readers across
a range of abilities. Easy material is blended with more
challenging ideas about infinity and complex numbers, and a final
chapter "For Connoisseurs" works through some of the particular
claims and examples in the book in mathematical language for those
who appreciate a complete explanation.
As our understanding of numbers continues to evolve, this book
invites us to rediscover the mystery and beauty of numbers and
reminds us that the story of numbers is a tale with a long way to
run...
General
| Imprint: |
Springer London
|
| Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
| Release date: |
March 2008 |
| First published: |
2008 |
| Authors: |
Peter Michael Higgins
|
| Dimensions: |
185 x 133 x 25mm (L x W x T) |
| Format: |
Hardcover
|
| Pages: |
323 |
| Edition: |
2008 ed. |
| ISBN-13: |
978-1-84800-000-1 |
| Categories: |
Books >
Science & Mathematics >
Mathematics >
General
|
| LSN: |
1-84800-000-6 |
| Barcode: |
9781848000001 |
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